2018 Sea Turtle Conservation Expeditions

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1 2018 Sea Turtle Conservation Expeditions

2 Welcome to the SEE Turtles Conservation Travel Catalog! On our unique educational and volunteer trips, you will work with local researchers to study and protect sea turtles all around Latin America. By joining one of these trips, you will be directly supporting community-based conservation of endangered sea turtles by providing alternative income to poaching and generating funds to expand their efforts. Part of the profits from every trip will support turtle conservation through our Billion Baby Turtles initiative; we pledge to save at least 100 hatchlings for every traveler. We started SEE Turtles in 2008 to encourage travelers to visit turtle conservation projects where their visit will make a difference in efforts to protect these endangered creatures. To date, we have raised roughly $1 million for conservation and local communities, connected more than 1,200 travelers with conservation projects, and have saved more than 900,000 hatchlings through Billion Baby Turtles. We hope you can join us on one of these action-packed conservation trips. We will meet and interact with the dedicated people working to protect their natural resources and learn much about the biology and threats facing sea turtles in this beautiful region. We hope to SEE you soon! Brad Nahill, President & Co-Founder Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, Co-Founder

3 Copyright 2017 SEE Turtles is a non-profit organization based in Beaverton, Oregon. Table of Contents About SEE Turtles 1 Conservation Travel 2 Eco-Friendly Travel 3 Destinations 4 Belize Ocean Wildlife Research 5 Top Ten Turtle Facts 6 Baja Whales & Turtles 7 Baja Ocean Wildlife Expedition 8 Turtle Threats 9 Costa Rica Leatherback Turtle Volunteer Trip 10 Costa Rica Green Turtle Research Expedition 11 Turtleshell is Too Rare To Wear 12 Cuba Sea Turtle Expedition 13 Cuba Nature & Culture Expedition 14 From the Turtle Blog 15 Nicaragua Sea Turtle Volunteer Expedition 16 Turtle Watching Tips 17 Billion Baby Turtles 18 Contact Us 19

4 About SEE Turtles was launched in 2008 as the world s first effort to protect sea turtles through ecotourism. Our mission is to protect endangered turtles throughout Latin America and the world by supporting community-based conservation efforts through ecotourism, education, and fundraising through Billion Baby Turtles. We became an independent non-profit in Our mission is to protect endangered turtles throughout Latin America and the world by supporting communitybased conservation efforts through ecotourism, education, fundraising through Billion Baby Turtles, and our Too Rare To Wear campaign. CONSERVATION SUCCESS Since our launch, we have helped save sea turtles in many different ways: We have generated roughly $1 million in benefits for turtle conservation and local communities through tours, donations, and in-kind services. Billion Baby Turtles has saved more than 900,000 turtle hatchlings at conservation projects across Latin America. More than 1,200 travelers visiting turtle projects. More than 500 volunteers have completed more than 4,000 work shifts. We have reached more than 10,000 students across the US and Latin America with our educational programs. Photo Credit: Hal Brindley Page 1

5 Conservation Travel Conservation travel is any trip that directly benefits native endangered wildlife. The benefit can be monetary, such as donations to local organizations or spending that shows local communities that wildlife is valuable to protect. The benefit to endangered wildlife can also come in the form of volunteer help: protecting eggs on a sea turtle nesting beach or recording dolphin behavior, for example. SEE Turtles Criteria for Conservation Travel: Directly supports conservation: Tours generate funding for conservation programs and volunteer support. Educates travelers: Tours provide lasting learning opportunities about natural history, threats to species, and how to help endangered wildlife. Benefits local communities: Operators use locally-owned businesses and guides in communities near turtle hotspots. Reduces environmental impact: When possible, low-impact lodging is utilized and waste and carbon emissions are reduced. Page 2

6 Eco-Friendly Travel SEE Turtles strives to reduce the environmental impact of our trips wherever possible. Sometimes we need help from you, the traveler, so here are some ways that we (and you) can help. Reducing Plastic Use We encourage travelers to bring reusable water bottles to refill (you can go through as many as bottles on one trip per person). Another suggestion is to ask for no straws with your drinks. Souveniers can be stored in day packs instead of disposable plastic bags. We offer reusable water bottles at cost for clients. Reef-Friendly Sunscreen Did you know that sunscreen can damage coral reefs? The ingredient oxybenzone has been found to cause harm in small quantities. Look for sunscreen without this ingredient or label as reef-friendly. Sunscreens with zinc oxide are considered safe. Reducing Carbon Emissions Travel by its nature creates significant pollution. Some ways you can reduce your emissions include leaving electronic devices at home, turning of fans, lights, and AC when not at hotels or cabins, and by using public transportation when possible. For sites with limited electricity, you can purchase a solar powered charger to recharge small electronics. You can also purchase carbon offsets; one we recommend is Seagrass Grow which restores important seagrass beds, which are important for green sea turtles and other ocean wildlife. Page 3

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8 Belize Ocean Wildlife Expedition Belize Join us for a unique volunteer trip to Belize. You ll have opportunities to participate in research of bottlenose dolphins, hawksbill sea turtles, manatees, and more. Spend 4 nights at St. George s Caye, participating in research on hawksbill turtles, dolphins, and manatees, and visiting Hol Chan Marine Reserve. There is an optional extension to go cave tubing and visit the extraordinary Tikal National Park on a day trip to Guatemala. Click for Full Itinerary Trip Details 2018 Date: July Extension: July Duration: 7 days Price: $1,595 per person Photos: Linda Searle/EcoMar, Elbert Greer, Oceanic Society (Extension: $525 pp) Page 5

9 Did You Know? Top 10 Turtle Facts 1. Sea turtles can vary in size from the relatively small Kemp s ridley sea turtle ( pounds) to the enormous leatherback, which can weigh more than 1,000 pounds. 2. Sea turtles migrate long distances to feed, often crossing entire oceans. Some loggerheads nest in Japan and migrate to Baja California Sur, Mexico to forage, then back again! Leatherbacks Females nest every 2-5 years, and often multiple times in one year. can withstand temperatures as cold as 40 degrees F and are found as far south as Chile and as far north as Alaska. 8. Hatchlings The temperature of a nest determines the gender of sea turtle hatchlings. Once out of the nest, hatchlings face many predators including ghost crabs, birds, and raccoons. 9. It was recently discovered that sea turtles communicate with each other before hatching, using chirps and other sounds to coordinate their run to the ocean. A temporary tooth on their snout, called a caruncle, helps baby sea turtles to hatch. use sand temperature and light reflecting off the waves to figure out when and where to go towards the ocean. 10. Sea turtles have been on Earth for 100 million years and outlived the dinosaurs. Photo: Neil Osborne Page 6

10 Baja Ocean Wildlife Expedition Mexico Where else can you see sea turtles, gray whales, whale sharks, & more? Baja California Sur, Mexico! Help study turtles, meet the friendly gray whales, and snorkel with whale sharks on this extraordinary wildlife adventure. You ll camp in Magdalena Bay, visit beautiful Balandra Beach, and much more. Click for Full Itinerary Trip Details 2018 Date: March 3-10 Duration: 8 days Above: Whale Shark - Carlos Aguilera, Turtle: Elizabeth Moreno Price: $2,295 per person Page 7

11 Baja Whales and Turtles Mexico Soak up the sun as you spend time with whales, sea turtles and other passionate conservationists on this trip to Baja s scenic Magdalena Bay. For five days, you will explore a rich marine habitat as you assist with ongoing studies of gray whale and green sea turtle ecology. Click for Full Itinerary Above: Friendly gray whale Pro Peninsula; Right: Elizabeth Moreno I Side image: Brad Nahill/ SEE Turtles Trip Details 2017 Dates: Feb & Duration: 4 days Price: from $1,595 per person Page 8

12 Turtle Threats Worldwide, six of the seven sea turtle species are classified as threatened or endangered due to human activity. The biggest threats include: Entanglement in fishing gear Poaching and illegal trade of eggs, meat, and shells Coastal development Plastic and other marine debris Global warming Ocean pollution Global Status: The world s seven sea turtle species are classified as follows according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Kemp s Ridleys: Critically Endangered Hawksbills: Critically Endangered Greens: Endangered Loggerheads: Vulnerable Olive Ridleys: Vulnerable Leatherbacks: Vulnerable Flatbacks: Insufficient Data Click to Learn More Photo Credit Hal Brindley Page 9

13 Costa Rica Leatherback Research Costa Rica Assist researchers in an ongoing turtle conservation project at a remote location in beautiful Costa Rica. By night, you will walk a turtle nesting beach in search of leatherbacks. During the day, you can take boat rides on rainforest canals to look for wildlife including sloths, monkeys, caiman, and more. Click for Full Itinerary Above: A volunteer shows off a moth. Right: Volunteers watch a nesting leatherback; Large Image: A baby leatherback crawls to the sea Neil Osborne Trip Details Duration: 7 days 2018 Dates: May 5-11 June (Private dates available) Price: from $1,495 per person Page 10

14 Costa Rica Costa Rica Green Turtle Research Help researchers study green and hawksbill turtles in the Golfo Dulce - both of which are endangered. Spend 5 days on the incredible Osa Peninsula catching and releasing turtles, restoring mangroves, and more. On the sea turtle research days, you will help set nets in key turtle spots. You will have the opportunity to help bring in the turtles, measure them, and perhaps even tag them. Click for Full Itinerary Trip Details PAGE 9 Above: Hal Brindley; Right: A sea turtle is returned to the water after being measured James Richard; Large Image: Neil Osborne Date: Dec 26th - Jan 2, 2018 (Private dates available) Duration: 7 days Price: $1,695 per person Page 11

15 Turtleshell Jewelry SEE Turtles is leading a campaign to end the purchase of handicrafts made from the shell of critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles. These items are commonly sold at souvenir shops and artisan stands in Latin America and elsewhere (recent studies show 70% of shops in Cuba and 90% in Nicaragua sell these items). Keep an eye out for turtleshell and refuse to purchase from shops that sell this product. It s illegal to bring turtleshell back to the US and it s illegal to sell in most countries. Learn More About Hawksbills Page 12

16 Cuba Sea Turtle Expedition Cuba Spend 3 nights at a sea turtle conservation project in the incredible Guanahacabibes National Park, along Cuba s western coast. Help Cuban biologists to study green sea turtles. During the day, explore the park s forests, birds, reefs, and caves. Also includes 2 days exploring the history and culture Havana. Click for Full Itinerary Photos: Green turtle hatchling - Rene Perez Massola; Green turtle - Julia Azanza; Researchers - Rene Perez Massola Trip Details 2018 Dates: June 24 - July 1 Duration: 8 days Price: $2,995 per person Page 13

17 Cuba Nature & Culture Expedition Cuba Join us for a unique exploration of Cuba! Travel to Guanahacabibes National Park, the island s westernmost point to look for green sea turtles and swim crystal blue waters. You ll explore the culture and history of Havana, and visit a beautiful countryside town, and learn about this fascinating country. Click for Full Itinerary Trip Details Above & Right: Brad Nahill / SEE Turtles; Large Image: Sergio Romero Torras 2018 Date: August 5-12 Duration: 8 Days Price: $3,995 per person Page 14

18 From the TurtleBlog Click to visit the TurtleBlog Wild(life) Party In Baja The next morning, Jesus Chuy Lucero of the Grupo Tortuguero, led our group to a spot in the bay to set nets to catch black sea turtles (a subspecies of green turtles) to study and release. It didn t take long to catch the first turtle, which Chuy pulled into his boat within a few minutes of our arrival. eagrass with a horde of people Click to Read the Full Story Page 15

19 Nicaragua Nicaragua Sea Turtle Volunteer Expedition Join us for a unique volunteer vacation to a remote corner of Nicaragua. Spend a week in the small town of Padre Ramos, home to one of the most important hawksbill turtle nesting beaches in the America s. You will work to help the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle while exploring a beautiful mangrove estuary by foot, kayak, and boat. Click for Full Itinerary Trip Details Photos: Brad Nahill / SEE Turtles 2018 Date: Aug 5-12 Duration: 8 days Price: $1,495 per person Page 16

20 10 Sea Turtle Watching Tips Maintain a respectful distance in the water and on nesting beaches. Clear beaches and water of plastic and other litter, even if it s not yours. Sea turtles often confuse plastic for food. Females like their nesting beaches dark and quiet; avoid using flash photography, strong flashlight beams, fires, vehicles, and even light-colored clothing, and avoid making loud noises. Hire local guides; they will know best where and how to spot turtles and to prevent causing them undue stress. Do not feed wildlife. It can make them ill and more vulnerable to humans. When boating in the ocean, slow down when wildlife is present and avoid anchoring in sensitive coral reefs and seagrass beds Choose to eat local and sustainable food caught with environmentally friendly fishing gear - preferably troll or hook and line. For the best experience, look to travel with a turtle conservation tour or volunteer with a turtle conservation project. Reduce your carbon footprint while on vacation. Climate change affects ocean wildlife by altering their habitat and food sources. Help save sea turtle hatchlings through Billion Baby Turtles. Photo Credit: Hal Brindley

21 Billion Baby Turtles $1 saves 1 hatchling Help Lead One to the Sea Six out of seven of the world s sea turtle species are endangered or threatened. To reverse this decline, SEE Turtles has launched Billion Baby Turtles. With the goal of saving one billion baby turtles around the world over the next decade, we are collecting donations from wildlife enthusiasts like you. For every dollar that we raise, we can save at least one endangered sea turtle hatchling through our partner organizations. Donate Here

22 Beaverton OR, USA Mon-Fri, 9am - 5pm Pacific SEEturtles.org SEE You Soon Photo Credit Hal Brindley